It has been 25 years since the waiting list was open for this building, a 13-story rental tower for low-income seniors at 96 Baxter St. Today the Chung Pak Local Development Corp. in Chinatown is finally reopening the list and accepting applications.

Officials with the organization made the announcement at a news conference yesterday in the 13th floor community room. The building is operated through Chung Pak’s elderly housing branch, Everlasting Pine HDFC. The 88-unit project is supported through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 senior supportive housing program.

The original waiting list contained well over 3,000 names, but has dwindled to a handful. Only people aged 62 and older and mobility impaired applicants over the age of 18 may apply to join the waiting list. In order to qualify for a studio apartment, applicants must have an annual income of $33,400 or less. The limit is $38,200 for 1-bedroom apartments. Eligible tenants pay 30% of their annual income. Applications will be available at the building beginning today (you must bring an index card with your contact info). You can also mail a request for an application to: Everlasting Pines HDFC, 96 Baxter St. New York, NY, 10013. Applications must be postmarked by Sept. 5.

Present at yesterday’s media event were Chung Pak LDC’s acting chairman, Sherman Eng; Director of Operations Jacky Wong; board members; and community leaders. City Council member Margaret Chin and Virginia Kee, founder of the Chinese American Planning Council reminisced about the fight to build the senior housing project in the early 1980s. Kee and Chin were both on the front lines during large protests against the Koch Administration’s plan to build a jail on the site. The jail was built, but a portion of the property was set aside for the low-income building.

Two tenants living in the building are 108, said Eng, while the youngest residents are around 85. One apartment, a 1-bedroom unit, is currently vacant.